Chengdu

💡 About Chengdu

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China, is a city famous for two things above all — fiery cuisine and adorable giant pandas. Renowned as one of the most relaxed and pleasure-loving cities in China, its unhurried pace, teahouse culture and love of good food give it an irresistible charm.

Chengdu is the gateway to the world of the giant panda. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, on the city's outskirts, is the best place on Earth to see these beloved creatures, from playful cubs to lumbering adults munching bamboo in leafy enclosures.

The city is the beating heart of Sichuan cuisine, one of the great culinary traditions of China, famous for its bold, mouth-numbing use of chilli and Sichuan peppercorns. The communal ritual of the bubbling, spicy hotpot is a way of life here, best enjoyed with friends over hours.

With its ancient teahouses where locals play mahjong and have their ears cleaned, its Taoist temples and its buzzing nightlife, Chengdu blends laid-back tradition with modern dynamism. It is also a springboard to the sacred mountains and grasslands of western China.

⭐ Known For